Cops raise barricades on killer Elevated Road

Coming out of their slumber after increasing instances of accidents and resultant deaths on the Elevated road, the traffic police officials have of late erected barricades at three main accident-prone spots, while also placing sign boards prescribing speed limit for heavy and light vehicles.

Coming out of their slumber after increasing instances of accidents and resultant deaths on the Elevated road, the traffic police officials have of late erected barricades at three main accident-prone spots, while also placing sign boards prescribing speed limit for heavy and light vehicles.

Blame it on its design or missing traffic sense in commuters or absence of proper monitoring that led to rash driving; the road, which was erected to ease the traffic congestion, has turned into a smash-up zone.Perched on 17.2-meter-wide pillars, the road is the third of its kind in India, built to benefit the tourists and devotees visiting important places, including Durgiana temple, Jallianwala Bagh and Attari border.

However, far from serving the purpose, the road emerged as a killer — claiming lives of commuters in fatal accidents. Two youths, who were killed recently in an accident, were the latest victim of the Elevated killer road.

On March 7, Gurmeet Singh and Laddipal Singh of Majhpur village were killed in an accident when a speeding car rammed into the motorcycle they were riding on.

Almost a year ago, 34-year-old Mohit Khanna was killed in an accident. In 2010, a senior citizen was killed in an accident that occurred due to water logging on the road. In September last, a man was killed after mysteriously falling off the Elevated road.

“Sign boards pointing speed limit have been erected there, while the road has also been barricaded at three accidentprone points,” said Shailender Singh Shally, additional deputy commissioner of police, traffic, (ADCP-traffic). He added that besides, traffic patrolling had been enhanced in the area to try and avert road accidents.

“Apart from this, audio systems have been installed at Novelty Chowk and Customs Chowk to spread traffic awareness among city residents, while five alcometres have been sanctioned for the city to check drunken driving, which would soon be put to use,” he added.